Looking for something epic to do in Tampa Bay? Search no further than our top picks of things to do this week in Tampa Bay! From crafty workshops to fitness, theater shows, concerts, community events, and markets, there’s so much to do in the area.
HalloWEEK is here! Don’t miss out on your last chance for a hauntingly cute date night ideas in our ULTIMATE Tampa Bay Fall Guide. From fall festivals to haunted houses, pumpkin patches, and more, we’ll have it all!
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Featured Events
Schirmer Theatrical Presents Ghostbusters In Concert National Fall Tour
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Location: Ruth Eckerd Hall
Audiences will see the original 1984 Ghostbusters film presented on a massive HD screen, accompanied by an orchestra performing the iconic score and soundtrack live to picture! Peter M. Bernstein, son of Academy Award®-winning composer Elmer Bernstein and an orchestrator on the original film, joins Schirmer Theatrical’s creative team in reconstructing his father’s score for the live performance.
Moonlight Express – Adults Only Magic Experience
- Dates: Select Dates, now through November 19, showtime at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: 1211 1st Aven N., Suite 101, St. Petersburg 33705
Step aboard the Moonlight Express, an adults only immersive magic experience unlike anything else. Departing from Zubrick Station, this 70 minute journey aboard a private 1940s style train car combines sophisticated sleight-of-hand magic, champagne, a curated confection, and an atmosphere inspired by the golden age of rail travel. Close up magician Neil Fama guides your journey as every moment unfolds just inches away, and sometimes in your own hands. Space is limited to 22 passengers. Visit www.moonlightexpress.com for departure dates and boarding passes.
A Nightmare on Franklin Street
- Dates: Select dates, October 19-31, 2026
- Location: Tampa Theatre
Every October, Tampa’s most historic (and most haunted) movie palace presents its most sinister series, A Nightmare on Franklin Street, where you can catch everything from classic slasher horror films to family-friendly Halloween flicks, ghost tours and even a live stage show.
WORTH THE DRIVE: ice!™ featuring The Polar Express™
- Dates: November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Location: Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, FL
Christmas at Gaylord Palms transforms the 65-acre resort into a sparkling holiday destination filled with festive wonder and family fun. The yuletide celebration is anchored by the return of “ice! featuring The Polar Express™,” where more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice bring the beloved holiday story to life in a dozen larger-than-life scenes inside a 9-degree environment. Guests also can enjoy the award-winning POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance show, snow tubing down Snow Flow Mountain, photos with Santa, snowball throwing, a dazzling atrium light display and hundreds of Christmas trees.
Use code DATENIGHT to save up to 25%* on ice! and POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance tickets!
*Valid Online Only. Maximum 8 tickets per order. Taxes and fees may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Discount not valid on previously purchased tickets. Blackout dates may apply.
Events This Week in Tampa Bay, October 26 – November 1, 2026
Lion & Hyena Ridge at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!
- Date: Now Open!
- Location: Tampa
Get ready to come face to face with two of Africa’s most legendary predators at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Lion & Hyena Ridge is an extraordinary new addition to the park’s award-winning animal care portfolio and one of the most immersive wildlife experiences in North America. Included with general admission.
Craft River Cruises
- Date: Various dates and times
- Location: 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa
Enjoy brunch or dinner on a Craft River Cruise! Each cruise is two hours. The dinner cruise includes a 3-course meal, as well as soda, coffee, and tea. Brunch includes your choice of entree and dessert, as well as soda, coffee, and tea.
Howl-O-Scream
- Dates: Now through October 31, 2026
- Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Get ready to SCREAM and SHOUT! Howl-O-Scream is back at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and will be thrilling you all spooky SZN long now through October 31, 2026 with returning favorites and NEW horrors!
Creatures of the Night
- Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays now through October 31, 2026
- Location: ZooTampa, 1001 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa
- Cost: $34.95 or $39.95 on Saturdays
From an all-new Halloween realm for the bravest ghouls to a family-friendly walk-through haunted neighborhood, this year’s event features many new surprises! Plus, enjoy expanded experiences at returning favorites including more disco boogie fun with the zombies at the Dancing Dead and breathtaking artistic performances from the living fountain at the Enchanted Circle.
2026 OktoBEEfest
- Date: Now through October 28, 2026
- Location: Country Boy Brewing
Celebrate OktoBEEfest, an event that brings together active duty, retired, and former Navy Seabees, Civil Engineer Corps officers, friends, and families!
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
- Dates: Select nights, through November 1
- Location: 2837 S Frontage Rd., Plant City
- Cost: $27+ per person
Make your way to Plant City to visit this outdoor haunt comprised of three separate haunted trails. Each trail has its own backstory, plus there is a haunted hay ride! Tickets must be purchased in advance for the 2026 season.
Fall Festival at Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia
- Dates: Now through November 1, 2026
- Location: 579 Ken Hubbard Road, Terra Ceia
- Cost: $19-22 per person
Ananda Farm is one of our favorite farms in the Tampa Bay Area, where adults can enjoy a farm-to-table menu, live music, and more. They will also have U-Pick flowers and kids’ activities, hay bale play, pumpkins, and more!
Pemberton Haunted Acres
- Dates: Friday-Sunday, through November 1
- Location: 4802 W Knights Griffin Rd., Plant City
- Cost: $27.99-$249.99 per person
Step into their haunted houses packed with thrilling surprises! Dubbed the “goriest haunted house in Plant City,” each room within the haunted attraction is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Experience Hillbilly Mayhem, Pine Hollow State Forest, and Krow’s Revenge scare zone.
Fall Festival at Dade City Farms
- Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in October 2026
- Location: 17143 Lake Iola Rd., Dade City
- Cost: $12 per person online
Celebrate fall at Dade City Farms’ Fall Festival! Snap family photos with your loved ones in our pumpkin patch as you pick out the perfect pumpkin. Meet the friendly animals in the petting zoo, get creative with face painting, and shop for unique treasures from local craft vendors. Savor fall treats like apple cider donuts and other delicious snacks from food trucks, with yard games and activities for the whole family, it’s the perfect fall day on the farm!
Jurassic Haunt Halloween Pirates of the Prehistoric
- Dates: Select nights, now through November 1, 2026
- Location: 5145 Harvey Tew Rd., Plant City
- Cost: $19.95 per person
Dinosaur World’s Jurassic Haunt returns bigger than ever, transforming the park after dark with glowing trails, spooky-fun scare zones, a haunted train ride, free face painting, temporary tattoo station and more!
Pirate Water Taxi Tampa Haunted River Tours
- Dates: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October 2026, multiple times available
- Location: Convention Center/ Marriott Water Street (Stop 7 location)
- Cost: $35+ per person
The Pirate Water Taxi is one of our favorite ways to get around downtown Tampa, and during the Halloween season, the water taxi gets a haunted twist. This year, there’s even more to be excited about!
Pirate Water Taxi is hosting Haunted River Tours on select evenings, with a new boat and adult beverages! Get ready for spooky stories about Tampa’s haunted landmarks and history with creepy vibes.
Pirate’s Halloween
- Dates: Fridays and Saturday, now through October 31, 2026
- Location: 33 S Franklin St., Tampa
- Cost: $39.95 per adult, $29.95 per child (ages 2-12)
This October, set sail aboard The Lost Pearl Pirate Ship for a Halloween adventure! The 1.5-hour Halloween pirate cruise blends spooky fun with swashbuckling excitement. Costumes are encouraged for kids AND adults. Activities include Halloween and Pirate Games: Pumpkin Toss, Water Cannon Battles, Mummy Wrap, Spooky Dance Party, and Captain Patchy’s Pumpkin Patch.
Misery
- Dates: Select dates, October 14-November 8, 2026
- Location: The Straz Center
- Cost: $47.40 per person
True life becomes stranger than fiction when acclaimed romance novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a wintery car crash by his “number one fan,” seemingly-kind nurse Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character.
UnDead in the Water
- Dates: October 29, 30-31, 2026
- Location: 705 Channelside Dr., Tampa
- Cost: TBA
Moored in the Port of Tampa, the American Victory has been repurposed for a chilling new mission. As a floating fortress housing the most dangerous criminals: murderers, traitors, and the utterly unredeemable, will you brave the wrath of both prisoners and guards, and become the first to escape?
Halloween Speakeasy Cocktail Experience
- Date: October 26-30, 2026, multiple times
- Location: Fenway Hotel, Dunedin
- Cost: $10-20 per person
Fenway Hotel, Room 27 invites guests to discover a limited-time cocktail experience inspired by the darker side of the season with a crafted specialty menu of Halloween-inspired cocktails designed to surprise, intrigue, and set the mood for an unforgettable evening.
Haunted Fest St. Pete 2026
- Dates: October 30-31, 2026
- Location: St. Pete Pier
- Cost: $60+ per person
From the creators of Breakaway Music Festival and the Rise Up St. Pete concert series comes a premier Halloween weekend electronic music experience featuring international superstar headliners, curated artist lineups, a silent disco, and more!
Oktoberfest Tampa
- Date: October 30-31 and November 1, 2026
- Location: Curtis Hixon Park
Celebrate with German cheer, dancing, and singing along the Hillsborough River downtown at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on October 30, 31, and November 1. Tap the inaugural keg on Friday, October 9th, as the doors open to Tampa’s largest Oktoberfest.
Events Next Week in Tampa Bay, November 2-8, 2026
Happy November! Thanksgiving is coming up fast; be sure to make your reservations for Thanksgiving buffets and Thanksgiving dinner in Tampa before it’s too late. Don’t forget about the annual Turkey Trots before the big feast!
Hokus Pokus Live!
- Date: November 3, 2026
- Location: Tampa Theatre
The witches are back and confused about what is happening in this new world of 2026! Hokus Pokus Live! is a hilarious, high-camp parody of everyone’s favorite Halloween cult classic, brought to life by drag royalty.
With the power of Magica Mystica, Salem’s most infamous and glamorous trio is resurrected from the grave for one night only. This all-live singing, fully scripted theatrical experience is unlike any other show you’ve ever seen!
Looking Ahead, November 9, 2026, and Beyond
Check out some great spots to view Christmas lights and more in Tampa Bay!
10th annual Whiskey Tampa Foxtrot Celebration
- Date: November 9-14
- Location: Bern’s Steakhouse
This year, Whiskey Tampa Foxtrot returns with an especially impressive lineup, bringing together some of the most respected names in American whiskey for six consecutive nights of intimate dining experiences throughout Bern’s Steak House. The 2026 series will feature Booker’s, Willett, Rare Character, Garrison Bros., with WhistlePig taking over the final two evenings for dedicated Boss Hog and Bern’s Private Selects dinners.
ice!™ featuring The Polar Express™
- Dates: November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Location: Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee, FL
Christmas at Gaylord Palms transforms the 65-acre resort into a sparkling holiday destination filled with festive wonder and family fun. The yuletide celebration is anchored by the return of “ice! featuring The Polar Express™,” where more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice bring the beloved holiday story to life in a dozen larger-than-life scenes inside a 9-degree environment. Guests also can enjoy the award-winning POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance show, snow tubing down Snow Flow Mountain, photos with Santa, snowball throwing, a dazzling atrium light display and hundreds of Christmas trees.
Use code DATENIGHT to save up to 25%* on ice! and POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance tickets!
*Valid Online Only. Maximum 8 tickets per order. Taxes and fees may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Discount not valid on previously purchased tickets. Blackout dates may apply.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE GREAT EVENTS!
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin 17th Annual Food and Wine Classic
- Dates: November 20-21, 2026
- Location: 1200 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista 32830
Savor 40 inspired dishes paired with over 170 beer, wine, and spirits across two days, featuring returning favorites and bold new flavors for a truly memorable culinary experience. Savor more with 10% off when you attend both nights!
Ongoing Things to Do in Tampa Bay
happy hour at J.W. Marriott clearwater beach
- Date: Sunday – Thursday, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
- Location: J.W. Marriott Clearwater Beach Lobby Bar: 691 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Unwind at the luxurious Lobby Bar at the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa during our weekly Happy Hour, Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy a variety of featured cocktails each evening, including Monday’s classic Gin & Tonic, Tuesday’s refreshing Rum & Coke, Wednesday’s crisp Vodka Soda, and Thursday’s vibrant Ranch Water.
Plus, savor $5 domestic beers and $8 house wines, with a delightful selection of bar bites available to complement your drinks. No need to stick to just one—our full cocktail menu is always at your fingertips. Join us for a perfect blend of relaxation and indulgence!
TASTING TUESDAYS at J.W. Marriott Clearwater Beach
- Date: Every Tuesday, at 5 p.m.
- Location: J.W. Marriott Clearwater Beach Lobby Bar: 691 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Spice up your week with Tasting Tuesday! Each week, explore a rotating selection of bourbon, tequila, or rum flights—perfectly curated to expand your palate. Which spirit will you choose this time?
Line Dancing with Simone
- Date: Every 1st and 4th Wednesday of the month
- Location: 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Get your boots on for Line Dancing with Simone. Lessons start at 7:00, followed by dancing! Arrive early for dinner and Boneless Wing Specials.
Lower Deck Bingo Night
- Date: Every Monday, 8 p.m.
- Location: Lower Deck, Tampa
Join in on Bingo night with coastal cocktails and some great, friendly competition!
Wine Wednesdays
- Date: Every Wednesday
- Location: The Library
Enjoy half price on all bottles under $110!
Trivia Night at CHeeky’s
- Date: Every Thursday, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Location: 2823 Central Ave, St. Pete
Join in on a family-friendly trivia night with four rounds, including music, pop culture, history, and more! Prizes are given for first, second, and third place, and a grand prize will be given at the end of the eight-week season.
Jazz Thursday’s
- Date: Every Thursday
- Location: Bouzy
Enjoy live Jazz music and a full menu with specials available!
Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
- Date: Every Thursday, 2 p.m.
- Location: Tampa Bay History Center
Explore Tampa’s historic cigar industry, where skilled artisans crafted hand-rolled cigars in bustling factories, shaping the city’s cultural identity!
Happy Hour Sunset Paddle
- Date: Every Friday
- Location: Urban Kai, Armature Works
Enjoy special pricing for a sunset paddleboard or kayak!
INest in Funk | All vynl rare & classic grooves dj set by aj hall
- Date: Recurring every third Friday of the month for 2026, 8 p.m.
- Location: Hotel Haya’s Flor Fina restaurant and lounge, 1412 E 7th Ave., Tampa
Bring it back to the old-school days with AJ Hall’s Finest in Funk Rare & Classic Grooves DJ setlist at Flor Fina located in Hotel Haya.
SUNSET YOGA AT ST. PETE PIER
- Date: Occurs monthly on the first Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m.
- Location: 600 2nd Ave NE St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Unwind with Sunset Yoga at the St. Pete Pier, hosted by The Body Electric Yoga Company. It’s a relaxing, all-levels class held under the Bending Arc sculpture with views of the bay as the sun sets. Free to join, just bring your mat!
The Market at Water Street Tampa
- Date: Recurring every third Sunday of the month
- Location: Water Street Tampa
Peruse more than 60 local vendors offering fresh produce, delicious snacks, and handcrafted or artisan goods!